Overview
If you want to live like a VIP for a night (who doesn't?) you don't have to travel far. If you're in Auckland, you actually only have to travel as far as Symonds Street and hit the new-look Cordis, which has recently undergone a $170 million upgrade to launch its new Pinnacle Tower. With 17 stories of new rooms, it brings the total number of hotel rooms to 640, making it the largest hotel in New Zealand.
It's part of a recent speight of new additions to the hotel, including the unashamedly Aotearoa-themed Our Land Is Alive bar, which opened early last year.
This Kiwiana theme carries throughout the new Pinnacle Tower, which includes 46 pieces of local art in a collection curated by Coupland Cormack. Arguably the best of these is a series of giant lightboxes showcasing art based around the four elements of earth, water, fire and wind, located at each of the sixteen lift lobbies. It's worth a trip to every floor to see them all.
At the top of the Pinnacle Tower sits its crown jewel: The 253 square metre Chairman Suite which is basically the size of a larger-than-average Auckland apartment. Soak in an oversized tub, hang out in a glass-walled shower overlooking the city, enjoy your private outdoor balcony with a fire pit or get some work done in your own private study, which truly gives Mr Sheffield's office from The Nanny vibes.
Arguably the best part of the hotel (if you're not in the VIP suite, of course) is the Club Lounge on the 14th floor, which offers a selection of afternoon tea treats from 2pm-5pm, pre-dinner drinks and canapés from 5.30pm–8pm, and espresso, tea, coffee, snacks and ice-cream available 24/7 throughout the day. In our opinion, this is one of Auckland's best-kept secrets — if you time it right, you can spend most of your day in there, eating, drinking and taking in the breathtaking full-circle views of Auckland landmarks like One Tree Hill, Rangitoto, Mount Eden and the Sky Tower. Just make sure you leave some room for the Cordis' legendary restaurant and buffet (outside of red level) Eight.
You can work off all those extra treats by swimming a few laps in the hotel's rooftop pool afterwards — followed by a wine or two in the adjoining pool bar — or fitting in a workout in the fitness centre. Or, just do away with working out altogether, and instead, just enjoy a signature Body Elements treatment in the award-winning Chuan Spa.
Just because they care, the hotel is now also running a new Heart of Dreams sleep wellness package, which is designed to travellers get a good night's sleep as part of their stay. Starting from $399 a night, you'll get a night's stay in one of Cordis' dream beds, breakfast in bed for two, a 'sleep well' kit including herbal tea and Linden Leaves bath essentials and oils, ear auricular therapy down at the hotel's spa (what is that you ask? We're unsure but it sounds amazing), access to the hotel's wellness app and pool and spa facilities. There's even a Spotify playlist of specially curated tracks from around the world to help you relax before bed.
Whether you've got a quick stop planned in Auckland or you're looking for somewhere for your next staycation, book a room on one of the higher levels of the Pinnacle tower and you won't even need to leave your hotel room to see the best of Auckland.
